The moderate leader of the Kosovar Albanians,
Ibrahim Rugova, has said he is planning to
return to Kosovo in the next few days to resume
his political activities in the province. Several
of Mr Rugova's more radical opponents in the
KLA, are already back in Kosovo at what could be
the beginning of a contest for power when
preparations get under way for elections. Mr
Rugova has spent six weeks in western Europe,
mostly in Italy, since he left Kosovo, where he
was held under house arrest by the Serbian
police during the first phase of Nato's air
strikes. Mr Rugova, whom most Kosovar Albanians
regard as their president, held a meeting on
Monday with officials of his party, the
Democratic League of Kosovo, and with other
groups linked to his movement to plan the
establishment of democratic institutions in
Kosovo. But their discussions in Rome were not
attended by those who matter perhaps the most -
the leaders of the KLA. They remain Mr Rugova's
bitter opponents and have formed a rival
provisional government under Prime Minister
Hashim Thaci.